Chapter 37: A New Discovery, a Human Youth

Feeling the surging power within his body, Mo Fan walked up to a towering tree nearby and, without a moment’s hesitation, threw a punch.

*Bang!*

A tremendous sound echoed as the trunk, nearly a meter in diameter, was pierced through, leaving a gaping hole from which milky-white sap began to ooze. Mo Fan frowned slightly, then lashed out with a kick beside the hole.

*Boom!*

The giant tree swayed and collapsed, severed clean at the waist. Looking at the tree now slumped across others, a look of genuine excitement finally appeared on Mo Fan’s face. His strength had truly improved significantly; it was no hallucination. Judging by the sensation, he estimated his power to be at least three thousand jin. He wasn’t entirely sure how that measured up in the world of demons, having never wrestled with one, but it was far greater than what he had possessed before. He felt confident that even if another black bear were to appear, he could crush it to death with brute force alone, without relying on any supernatural arts.

This change delighted Mo Fan, and he began to grasp the subtle utility of his "Devouring Heaven" ability. It seemed that after consuming a living creature, some of its power was channeled into his own body.

"If that’s the case, isn't this ability a bit too heaven-defying?" Mo Fan mused to himself, his spirit soaring. He wondered, *If consuming ordinary beasts yields such magical changes, what would happen if I were to devour a demon or a human cultivator?*

The thought excited him, though he quickly calmed down. He knew these things could not be rushed and required careful verification. Over the next two days, Mo Fan continued his journey, hunting plenty of prey. He had already gathered the required meat, and more importantly, he had used his ability to consume various beasts, strengthening his body in every respect.

He discovered that if he consumed beasts known for their strength, like oxen or bears, his own physical strength increased. If he consumed armored beasts, his defense improved. If he consumed agile ones, his speed saw a massive boost. This discovery initially thrilled him, but as he consumed more, the effects began to wane—or rather, the stronger his body became, the more prey he needed to consume to see further progress. Because of this, once his strength hit five thousand jin, he stopped bothering with ordinary beasts, as the gains had become negligible. Now, a single punch from Mo Fan possessed the power to shatter stone and snap trees—a formidable force indeed.

After two days of travel, Mo Fan lost track of his location. He only knew he was moving further away from Black Wind Mountain, having crossed countless ridges along the way. That day, as usual, he hunted a wild deer and set it to roast. Soon, the succulent venison began to sizzle and drip with fat. Gazing at the golden meat, Mo Fan felt a great sense of accomplishment and added a final touch of seasoning using various natural herbs.

Suddenly, a "rustling" sound reached his ears. Mo Fan stirred, turning his head to see a young man in green robes emerging from the dense forest a few yards away. The sound had been the youth treading on fallen leaves.

The boy appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, his long hair tied up with a wooden pin. His handsome face still held a touch of youthfulness, with sharp, sword-like brows and bright, star-like eyes. However, the patched green robe suggested a somewhat humble background. What caught Mo Fan’s attention most, however, was the white fox with a pink tail draped over the boy’s shoulder, the amber-colored gourd tied to his waist, and the wooden-handled sword strapped to his back. Everything about him seemed slightly uncanny.

Mo Fan was no fool. He scanned the surroundings and, seeing only the lush forest, realized this boy was no ordinary person. Moreover, the distinct "human scent" radiating from him, so different from a demon's, sent a jolt of alarm through Mo Fan. He hadn't expected to encounter a human here.

The youth spotted Mo Fan as well, but he didn't pause, walking straight toward him.

"Brother, roasting meat?" the boy asked, taking the initiative with a smile.

"Yes," Mo Fan nodded impassively. His hand, busy adding seasoning, stiffened slightly as he noticed the boy sitting down directly across from him.

"I happen to be hungry. Could I trouble you for a couple of pieces?" The boy didn't look at Mo Fan, but gazed longingly at the roasting venison. "A whole deer, no wonder I smelled it from so far away."

Mo Fan frowned, baffled by the boy’s audacity. *You’re hungry, so what? Can’t you hunt for yourself?* Still, he feigned hesitation. "This... is that really appropriate?"

*Slap!*

The youth casually unslung his wooden sword and slammed it onto the ground. "Can I have two pieces now?"

Mo Fan was speechless. Was he being threatened? Unfortunately, he never took threats well. Just as he prepared to refuse again, he felt a terrifying aura emanate from the boy. In an instant, the seemingly harmless youth transformed into a razor-sharp blade. Mo Fan felt an intense sense of crisis and didn't dare to meet his gaze.

"Of course you can!"

Mo Fan’s coldness vanished instantly, replaced by a beaming smile. He couldn't gauge the boy's true power and dared not act recklessly.

"My thanks, brother!" The boy smiled and asked, "How many days have you been wandering in these mountains?"

"A few days," Mo Fan replied nonchalantly, though his scalp tingled; he still felt the boy’s sword intent pressing down on him.

"Then I’d like to ask you something."

"Please, go ahead."

"In these past few days, have you seen a black fox?" the boy asked.

A black fox? Mo Fan was confused but replied honestly, "I have not." He countered, "Are there even black foxes in this world?"

"Of course. The world is vast, and there is nothing it does not contain. Perhaps... there are even demons!" The boy looked at Mo Fan with a cryptic smile, nearly making him think his identity as a demon had been exposed.

"Brother, you do like to joke. How could there be demons in broad daylight?" Mo Fan chuckled awkwardly. To stop the boy from probing further, he pointed at the meat. "The roast is ready. Help yourself!"

"Thank you!" The boy nodded, his focus shifting entirely to the food. Without standing on ceremony, he tore off a large piece of the deer leg. He didn't eat it immediately, instead feeding it to the white fox on his shoulder before tearing off another piece for himself. Perhaps enjoying the meal, the boy didn't forget to uncork his gourd and take a hearty swig. His carefree, uninhibited manner made Mo Fan deeply wary, preventing him from daring to make a move.

"Oh, I almost forgot you, brother. Would you like a drink?" The boy looked at Mo Fan and, without waiting for a reply, waved his hand. A clay bowl appeared on the ground.

This display made Mo Fan’s pupils shrink. This fellow was truly no ordinary person. Could he be a human cultivator?